Messi dropped as players vote for their World XI. No US players make women’s selection
December 10 – FIFA may still rate Lionel Messi as one of the best players in the world on current form but his peers clearly do not.
Bayern Munich break $1bn revenue barrier
December 9 – As well as being the most successful club in Germany, FC Bayern Munich are also the biggest generators of cash. The operational arm of Bayern München AG, has reported a record revenue of €951.5 million ($1 billion) for the 2023/24 fiscal year (July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024).
AFC draws final qualification groups for 2027 Asian Cup. Six slots in Saudi finals still open
December 10 – With the first 18 teams already qualified for the Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027, the AFC has drawn the next 25 teams into six qualifying groups for the confederation’s blue riband national team competition.
Galatasary sign one-season shirt deal with Northern Cypriot real estate firm Alpcans
December 10 – Turkey’s Galatasaray have signed a one-season shirt sponsorship agreement with Alpcans, a real estate business operating in Northern Cyprus, officially known as the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC).
Out of line: English referee David Coote fired for misconduct
December 10 – Premier League referee David Coote has been sacked after his position was deemed “untenable” by English football’s referees body following an investigation into his conduct which found his actions to be in serious breach of his contract.
MLS Next Pro vs USL Academy. Indy Eleven show US talent is nationwide
December 9 – The United Soccer League (USL) continues to provide healthy competition to Major League Soccer despite its second tier status, and that crosses over into the youth game.
Match day 15: Premier League’s pre-Christmas crowds drop
December 10 – This week’s capacity tracker shows the Premier League suffering from a slight attendance slump in the build-up to Christmas – a pattern reflected last season as the festive season approaches.
Concacaf readies for Champions Cup 2025 draw
December 10 – Concacaf will hold the draw for Round One of its premier club competition, the Champions Cup, in Miami today. The final 27 teams have been pre-seeded based on the Concacaf club rankings.
UEFA’s Playmakers completes Montenegro mission
December 10 – UEFA’s Playmakers programme made its way to Montenegro for a unique football festival last week, as the institution looked to inspire the next generation of football lovers with a female-focussed event.
River Plate brings in facial recognition technology for Estadio Mâs Monumental entry
December 10 – Argentinian giants River Plate have announced the introduction of facial recognition technology at their iconic Estadio Mâs Monumental, enabling fans to ‘enjoy quick, secure, and ticketless access’.
Germany to back Saudi 2034 bid despite human rights concerns, England undecided
December 9 – The English Football Association is still reportedly weighing up whether it will officially endorse Saudi Arabia’s 2034 World Cup bid at this week’s virtual FIFA Congress amid ongoing human rights concerns.
FIFA unveils venues and travel schedules for Club World Cup
December 9 – Having held the draw for the group stage of the expanded 32-team Club World Cup, FIFA has now released the venues, dates and kick-off times for the 63 matches.
Syrian FA changes logo colour as Assad regime crumbles
December 9 – The fall of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s regime has prompted the country’s football federation to change the national team’s kit and logo from red to green.
Essilor boosts its brand visibility with LFP sponsorship
December 9 – The Ligue de Football Professionel (LFP) has signed a multi-year deal with Essilor which will see the French multinational corporation become the Visual Health Partner of the Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Ligue 2 BKT, the Trophée des Champions and the LFP’s esports division.
MLS sponsorship hits record $665m in 2024
December 9 – Major League Soccer (MLS) has continued to build its sponsorship revenues, hitting a record $665 million in 2024, uncovered by research courtesy of Sponsor United.